Weekly Covid trend hints at high community transmission

Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Sep. 11 (EMN): Nagaland’s weekly Covid-19 positivity rate has remained below 5% for four consecutive weeks and the number of fresh cases too has decreased but 75% of cases reported last week ending September 10 were without any contact history, signifying high community transmission.

The department of Health and Family Welfare stated in its weekly bulletin that “many cases from self-test are still not reported”.

According to the update, the weekly Covid-19 sample positivity rate in Nagaland decreased to 2.3% (13,356 samples tested) from 3% in the previous week after week-on-week new cases dipped to 311 from 403.

The number of weekly deaths also decreased to eight from 12 in the week earlier. Dimapur reported four deaths, two in Kohima and one each in Kiphire and Peren.

“There were 60 Covid-19 hospital admissions from the week with Dimapur recording the maximum cases (34),” read the update.

“70% of Covid-19 deaths are males. This is attributed to higher prevalence of high-risk factors, more positive cases among males and also could be attributed to health seeking behaviour,” it added.

Vaccination can minimise impact of third wave

Covid-19 vaccination coverage has increased with 46,324 doses administered last week, taking the cumulative doses in the state to 9.21 lakh, but the Health department said that it “needs to be accelerated before the third wave hits the state”.

“Restrictions / limitations of social gatherings and other superspreader events, enforcement of mask wearing in public places along with vaccination will be the key factors in minimising the impact of the third wave thereby saving lives and avoiding lockdowns,” the update stated.

It went on to inform that the proportion of cases among 11 to 20-year age groups had increased from 8% in 2020 to 13% in 2021. ‘The decrease in proportion of cases in 21 to 30- and 31 to 40-year age group could be due to targeted testing among returnees in 2020,’ it added.

It informed that the proportion of confirmed cases among females had increased from 22% in 2020 to 41% in 2021.

The department also stressed on the importance of monitoring symptoms and early hospitalisation to save lives.

“45% of deaths died within 48 hours of arrival to hospital. This implies late arrival to hospital with too advanced symptoms. Timely treatment is critical for survival,” it stated, adding that “36 deaths have happened in home isolation without reaching the hospital”.